Hanging a mini split on aluminum siding

[wkndwarrior29]

As the title suggests, I'm considering installing a mini split in my garage. The condenser would need to be mounted on the wall and I have aluminum siding. I'm not too savvy with siding work, obviously it would need to be lagged to studs but I'm worried about crushing the siding. Does anyone have any pictures/examples of how the unit would be mounted? Any advice is appreciated.

 

[jack stand]

After hanging one on my shop wall, I'd put it on a ground pad. The vibration directly attached to the framing transmits that to the house. We're in the middle of the woods and very quiet. Someone in town with road and neighborhood noise might not notice as much, with that said we're now used to it.
To answer your question, I'd locate a stud from the inside, drill a hole to the outside next to it. You can measure from this point to locate the other studs. At this point you'll need to find out the mounting details of the hanging supports. The best way to handle the siding is to cut it out exactly the size of the supports, I'd use a length of 5/4 x4" PVC trim, It's purpose is basically just a spacer just a little thicker than the siding allowing an edge to caulk the siding to. The brackets lags will through it into the studs. A little piece of the siding that you removed can be easily bent into flashing for the top of the vertical PVC.
Aluminum siding does not expand anywhere near the amount that vinyl does and this was the norm (**** and caulk) back in the aluminum days. Use good caulk and OSI brand has it in all the colors by all the different manufacturers. I've used it for over 30 years doing "production" work for reigonal and national builders.
Cutting the aluminum can done patiently with a knife and shears, but I'd recommend one of those little oscillating "buzzing" can't think of what there called saws. There's no "shoe" to scratch the paint and the soft aluminum will cut easily, find a course blade, a finer one might clog up.
Iirc the bracket my guy used barely squeezed on 32" (2 stud bays), measure twice, cut once. The aluminum siding is good stuff for those who want no maintenance other than washing, it can be very successfully painted, be careful with it. Mounting it this way would have been how it was done years ago with the exception of the PVC trim, that would have been a piece of wood "wrapped" with aluminum coil stock. Also in the future this method will accommodate vinyl, wood or anything else other than 4x8 sheets of whatever.

 

[Terry D]

The way that I have done it on vinyl is to use some 1 inch diameter steel spacers as thick as you siding. then use a hole saw and drill through the siding at you locations for the lags. then you can go through the bracket. through the spacers and right into the stud. You can tighten it up tight and not crush the siding. If you have that fiber board sheathing behind the siding, I would hole saw through that also. Apply some silicon around the spacer to seal out water

 

[jack stand]

Terry's suggestion is a great one.
Just do your planning first no matter how you do it. There's a specific spot that there'll want to go through the wall with the line set. This will be part of the planning.

 

[kelpaso1]

Do not use brackets mounted to the outside wall to mount the condenser unit. It will vibrate the wall and will be annoying as hell. Been there done that. Put the condenser on a stand with concrete patio slabs and not attached to the wall.

 

[wkndwarrior29]

Thanks for the input, the spacer/bushing idea sounds like something I can execute. When you all are talking about vibration, the garage is attached to the house but this would be down a story and 15 feet or so over from my office. Do you think the vibrations would be heard? My concern with pad mount is really to keep it out of the snow. Here's a picture of the wall, I intended on hanging it above the bushes.

 

[jobo1004]

Thanks for the input, the spacer/bushing idea sounds like something I can execute. When you all are talking about vibration, the garage is attached to the house but this would be down a story and 15 feet or so over from my office. Do you think the vibrations would be heard? My concern with pad mount is really to keep it out of the snow. Here's a picture of the wall, I intended on hanging it above the bushes.

They make stands that are 12-24" tall that you can use to help keep them out of the snow if you mount them on a pad. https://www.quick-sling.com/minisplitstands

 

[Terry D]

Thanks for the input, the spacer/bushing idea sounds like something I can execute. When you all are talking about vibration, the garage is attached to the house but this would be down a story and 15 feet or so over from my office. Do you think the vibrations would be heard? My concern with pad mount is really to keep it out of the snow. Here's a picture of the wall, I intended on hanging it above the bushes.

I installed a Mr Cool 18k minisplit earlier this year in my detached garage. I hung the condenser on the side of the garage with a nice solid bracket, even bought better rubber isolators then what came with the unit and bracket. I will be honest, there is a vibration at times, depending on what speed the condenser is running. Its not bad, but you can notice it at times. You do know its out there. It is 2x4 construction with 3/4 sheathing and vinyl siding. I did the spacers as I described in post #3. It is solid against the wall. I choose to hang it because I thought it would be better being higher for snow and cleaning the coils and raking leaves under it. Also with hanging it, it only has to be 6 inches from the wall. Setting on a pad requires 12 inches from the wall. Closer to the building worked out better for me. They do make the stands which gives you the best of both worlds.

Don't get me wrong, I love the unit. I have read alot of reviews about vibration, they seem to be about 50/50. If I was going to put one on a house close to my bedroom, I might consider a stand or pad. Also maybe the more expensive brands are better as far as vibration

 

[chrispyny]

Look up the history of my posts. I posted my pioneer install. I have aluminum siding. I located a stud in the immediate vicinity of where the condenser would be installed on the INSIDE wall by finding a drywall screw on the stud. I used a long 1/8” drill bit and drilled from inside out, through the center of the stud, which gave me a 16” on center reference point. I used that to locate the remaining studs i needed outside by measuring 16” on center Left and right. then i mounted unitstrut horizontally top and bottom and bolted the condenser hanger on that. You can see the 1/8” reference hole next to the LB for power coming from inside. Then i just dabbed white silicone into the hole and have forgotten about it since.

by the way, it’s very very quiet. My master bedroom and office are directly above the condenser, and it’s VERY VERY quiet. I would,never hesitate to do this again.

 

[wkndwarrior29]

Look up the history of my posts. I posted my pioneer install. I have aluminum siding. I located a stud in the immediate vicinity of where the condenser would be installed on the INSIDE wall by finding a drywall screw on the stud. I used a long 1/8” drill bit and drilled from inside out, through the center of the stud, which gave me a 16” on center reference point. I used that to locate the remaining studs i needed outside by measuring 16” on center Left and right. then i mounted unitstrut horizontally top and bottom and bolted the condenser hanger on that. You can see the 1/8” reference hole next to the LB for power coming from inside. Then i just dabbed white silicone into the hole and have forgotten about it since.

by the way, it’s very very quiet. My master bedroom and office are directly above the condenser, and it’s VERY VERY quiet. I would,never hesitate to do this again.

Thanks for the information, I'm surprised that the Unistrut didn't kink the siding. I guess now I just need to decide on this or one of those 24" stands shared above. I think either could look pretty clean along my walkway.

 

[SALIV8]

I would drop treated 4x4’s in the ground and hang the condenser off those if I was worried about the siding and did not want to do a ground level pad.

 

[kelpaso1]

As I said, mounting the outside to the wall with wall brackets WIll cause vibrations in the wall with most MS's. Not all the time, but certain temps and conditions, you will hear the compressor ramping up and down vibrations. I've had minis for over 15 years and know what works. Just because someone says they have theirs mounted to the wall and no vibes is no guarantee yours wont.. Think about it. It's a big *** compressor and fan mounted to your wall.

 

[dfiler2]

I know someone who had two units installed last summer, both hung on the wall, it about drove them nuts over the winter especially at night. They had them moved to the ground this summer. They love the units and the job they do.

 

[mcspeed]

My Mitsubishi mini split is mounted on a 2 x4 exterior wall and there is no noise or vibration inside. The unit is extremely quiet to begin with so that may be the reason for no noise or vibration.

One of the many reasons I bought the Mitsubishi. There are cheaper units out there but I read of so many complaints.

 

[65ranchero]

When I had my mini split condenser mounted I also wanted to have it mounted on the vinyl clad exterior wall for the same concern of snow depth interfering with operation.
The contractor said I will not be happy with the vibration issues that are generated while operating. He cited a neighbor's house who had the condenser mounted on the wall and had to move it to the ground due to vibration complaints.
My unit is on a 24" high stand and the snow level never reaches the the bottom of the sheet metal.